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iPhone 6 vs. HTC One M8: Spec Showdown

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The iPhone 6 is here, and it’s bigger, thinner, and more powerful than ever before. It also has more competition than ever before. It’s surrounded by many highly desirable Android smartphones, one of which is the HTC One M8. HTC’s phone is incredibly attractive, due to the curvy metal body, and highly capable thanks to Android 4.4. Choosing between them isn’t easy, but the best starting point is to examine the numbers. We look into the specs of each to find out which one will come out on top in our Spec Showdown.

Related: Our review of the iPhone 6, plus and our HTC One M8 review

Apple iPhone 6

iPhone 6
Image used with permission by copyright holder

HTC One (M8)

HTC One M8
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 5.44 x 2.64 x .27 inches 5.77 x 2.78 x 0.38 (in)
Weight 4.55 ounces 2.12 ounces
Screen 4.7-inch 5.0-inch Super LCD3
Resolution 1334 x 750 pixels 1080×1920 pixels
OS iOS 8 Android 4.4 with HTC Sense UI
Storage 16, 64, 128 GB 16/32GB
SD Card Slot No Yes
Processor Apple 64-bit, A8 chip Quad-core Snapdragon 801
RAM 1GB 2GB
Connectivity 4G LTE, 802.11ac, Wi-Fi  4G LTE, HSPA+, NFC, Wi-Fi
Camera Front 1.2MP, Rear 8MP Front 5MP, Rear 4 Ultrapixel
Video 1080p HD 1080p HD
Fingerprint sensor
 TouchID No
Bluetooth 4.0 4.0
Battery TBA, 14 hours of talk time 2600mAh, 22 hours of talk time
Charger Lightning microUSB
Marketplace Apple App Store Google Play Store
Avg. Price $650, $200 with a two-year contract $670, $200 with a two-year contract
Availability Now on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile Now on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile
DT Review 4.5 out of 5 4.5 out of 5

Power and Battery Life

The HTC One M8 is driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, the same processor used in the LG G3, Xperia Z3, and Galaxy S5. Its clock speed is 2.3GHz and a total of 2MB of RAM accompanying it. The One M8 is one of the most powerful phones on the market, and matches its Android-based, high-end competition. The HTC One M8’s battery has a slightly higher capacity than the One M7, and can last for two weeks in standby mode, or return around 20 hours of talktime.

The iPhone 6 sports the brand new Apple A8 processor, which is 50 percent more energy efficient than previous iPhone chips, and has faster graphics performance. Sadly, the iPhone 6 still makes do with only 1GB or RAM. The thing to note with the iPhone is it’s M8 coprocessor, which is designed to keep watch over your movement, making it work well with fitness apps to track walking, cycling, or running. Battery life on the iPhone 6 is better than the iPhone 5S, with an estimated 14 hours of 3G talk time.

Design

The HTC One M8 rivals the iPhone 6 in terms of desirability. It sports a beautiful aluminum body, which is almost seamless, and is extremely comfortable to hold. However, it can be a bit slippery, so hold on tight. The One M8’s metal body has the added benefit of making the phone feel sturdier, but it is heavier than the old One M7 at 5.64 oz.

Apple’s redesigned iPhone 6 is sleek, smooth, and really good looking. It is considerably thinner than not only the iPhone 5S, but many other smartphones, and is light at only 2.12 oz. Buyers have the choice of three colors: The classic Silver, a cool Space Grey, and the popular Gold. One notable difference between the new iPhone 6 and the older models is the placement of the power button, which has been moved to the side.

Screen sizes on each phone are comparable, with the HTC One M8 measuring 5.0 inches and iPhone trailing slightly behind at 4.7 inches. The One M8’s 1080p resolution is higher than the iPhone’s unusual 1334 x 750 pixels.

Related: HTC One M8 vs. iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 5S

Camera

Apple didn’t drastically change the iPhone 6’s camera, but subtly improved key features instead. It still has 8 megapixels, with an f2.2 aperture lens, and a true-tone flash unit. In our tests, it performed well and took sharper pictures than the iPhone 5S. It also has digital image stabilization, and Apple said the lens can take in 81 percent more light, giving better results at night.

While the iPhone 6 holds it’s power in the lens and camera itself, HTC One looks at what to do after the photo is taken. A second sensor has been added to the 4-megapixel Ultrapixel camera, which lets you play around with the depth of field in pictures after they’ve been taken. It’s a fun effect, and can produce some great looking images. HTC’s Zoe app is pre-installed, which lets you get creative with your video and picture galleries, plus there’s a high quality 5-megapixel selfie cam above the screen.

Price and Availability

With a 2-year contract, a 16GB iPhone 6 will cost $200, then $300 for the 64GB model, and finally $400 for 128GB. It can be purchased without a contract through Apple for $650. The HTC One M8 is available through most networks in the U.S., along with several high street retailers, and is priced at $200 with a two-year contract. Buying it without a contract means spending $670 for the 32GB.

Conclusion

Based on the specs, the HTC One has the edge, offering a bigger, higher resolution screen, a larger battery, and an unusual camera. The iPhone 6 matches the One M8 in design and build quality, while its camera also takes fantastic images. Both run the latest versions of their respective operating systems, and feature high performance processors for a fast, smooth user experience. Depending in which app store you’ve been spending your money may have an impact on your buying decision, but if you have no personal preference, Apple’s iTunes App Store is perhaps slightly more user friendly.

The iPhone 6 feels like the newer phone, thanks to the updated design, while the HTC One M8 is an evolution of the One M7, and is visually very similar. Neither devices are water proof, which earns them both a black mark. Because they’re both very closely matched, and share similar positive and negative points, choosing between these two excellent smartphones will be a very hard decision.

Related: iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 6 Plus.

Related: iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy S5.

Related: iPhone 6 vs. Fire Phone.

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Emily Schiola
Emily Schiola
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Emily Schiola is an editorial assistant at Digital Trends where she covers mostly social media and how-to pieces. In her…
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